\"Comeinstantly，131，PittStreet，Kensington。——Lestrade。\"
\"Whatisit，then？\"Iasked。
\"Don’tknow——maybeanything。ButIsuspectitisthesequelofthestoryofthestatues。Inthatcaseourfriend，theimage—breaker，hasbegunoperationsinanotherquarterofLondon。There’scoffeeonthetable，Watson，andIhaveacabatthedoor。\"
InhalfanhourwehadreachedPittStreet，aquietlittlebackwaterjustbesideoneofthebriskestcurrentsofLondonlife。No。131wasoneofarow，allflat—chested，respectable，andmostunromanticdwellings。Aswedroveupwefoundtherailingsinfrontofthehouselinedbyacuriouscrowd。
Holmeswhistled。
\"ByGeorge！it’sattemptedmurderattheleast。NothinglesswillholdtheLondonmessage—boy。There’sadeedofviolenceindicatedinthatfellow’sroundshouldersandoutstretchedneck。What’sthis，Watson？Thetopstepsswilleddownandtheotheronesdry。Footstepsenough，anyhow！Well，well，there’sLestradeatthefrontwindow，andweshallsoonknowallaboutit。\"
Theofficialreceiveduswithaverygravefaceandshowedusintoasitting—room，whereanexceedinglyunkemptandagitatedelderlyman，cladinaflanneldressing—gown，waspacingupanddown。Hewasintroducedtousastheownerofthehouse——
Mr。HoraceHarker，oftheCentralPressSyndicate。
\"It’stheNapoleonbustbusinessagain，\"saidLestrade。
\"Youseemedinterestedlastnight，Mr。Holmes，soIthoughtperhapsyouwouldbegladtobepresentnowthattheaffairhastakenaverymuchgraverturn。\"
\"Whathasitturnedto，then？\"
\"Tomurder。Mr。Harker，willyoutellthesegentlemenexactlywhathasoccurred？\"
Themaninthedressing—gownturneduponuswithamostmelancholyface。
\"It’sanextraordinarything，\"saidhe，\"thatallmylifeIhavebeencollectingotherpeople’snews，andnowthatarealpieceofnewshascomemyownwayIamsoconfusedandbotheredthatIcan’tputtwowordstogether。IfIhadcomeinhereasajournalistIshouldhaveinterviewedmyselfandhadtwocolumnsineveryeveningpaper。AsitisIamgivingawayvaluablecopybytellingmystoryoverandovertoastringofdifferentpeople，andIcanmakenouseofitmyself。However，I’veheardyourname，Mr。SherlockHolmes，andifyou’llonlyexplainthisqueerbusinessIshallbepaidformytroubleintellingyouthestory。\"
Holmessatdownandlistened。
\"ItallseemstocentreroundthatbustofNapoleonwhichI
boughtforthisveryroomaboutfourmonthsago。IpickeditupcheapfromHardingBrothers，twodoorsfromtheHighStreetStation。Agreatdealofmyjournalisticworkisdoneatnight，andIoftenwriteuntiltheearlymorning。Soitwasto—day。
Iwassittinginmyden，whichisatthebackofthetopofthehouse，aboutthreeo’clock，whenIwasconvincedthatIheardsomesoundsdownstairs。Ilistened，buttheywerenotrepeated，andIconcludedthattheycamefromoutside。Thensuddenly，aboutfiveminuteslater，therecameamosthorribleyell——themostdreadfulsound，Mr。Holmes，thateverIheard。ItwillringinmyearsaslongasIlive。Isatfrozenwithhorrorforaminuteortwo。ThenIseizedthepokerandwentdownstairs。
WhenIenteredthisroomIfoundthewindowwideopen，andIatonceobservedthatthebustwasgonefromthemantelpiece。
Whyanyburglarshouldtakesuchathingpassesmyunderstanding，foritwasonlyaplastercastandofnorealvaluewhatever。
\"Youcanseeforyourselfthatanyonegoingoutthroughthatopenwindowcouldreachthefrontdoorstepbytakingalongstride。Thiswasclearlywhattheburglarhaddone，soIwentroundandopenedthedoor。SteppingoutintothedarkInearlyfelloveradeadmanwhowaslyingthere。Iranbackforalight，andtherewasthepoorfellow，agreatgashinhisthroatandthewholeplaceswimminginblood。Helayonhisback，hiskneesdrawnup，andhismouthhorriblyopen。Ishallseehiminmydreams。Ihadjusttimetoblowonmypolice—whistle，andthenImusthavefainted，forIknewnothingmoreuntilIfoundthepolicemanstandingovermeinthehall。\"
\"Well，whowasthemurderedman？\"askedHolmes。
\"There’snothingtoshowwhohewas，\"saidLestrade。\"Youshallseethebodyatthemortuary，butwehavemadenothingofituptonow。Heisatallman，sunburned，verypowerful，notmorethanthirty。Heispoorlydressed，andyetdoesnotappeartobealabourer。Ahorn—handledclaspknifewaslyinginapoolofbloodbesidehim。Whetheritwastheweaponwhichdidthedeed，orwhetheritbelongedtothedeadman，Idonotknow。
Therewasnonameonhisclothing，andnothinginhispocketssaveanapple，somestring，ashillingmapofLondon，andaphotograph。Hereitis。\"
Itwasevidentlytakenbyasnap—shotfromasmallcamera。
Itrepresentedanalert，sharp—featuredsimianmanwiththickeyebrows，andaverypeculiarprojectionofthelowerpartofthefacelikethemuzzleofababoon。
\"Andwhatbecameofthebust？\"askedHolmes，afteracarefulstudyofthispicture。
\"Wehadnewsofitjustbeforeyoucame。IthasbeenfoundinthefrontgardenofanemptyhouseinCampdenHouseRoad。
Itwasbrokenintofragments。Iamgoingroundnowtoseeit。
Willyoucome？\"
\"Certainly。Imustjusttakeonelookround。\"Heexaminedthecarpetandthewindow。\"Thefellowhadeitherverylonglegsorwasamostactiveman，\"saidhe。\"Withanareabeneath，itwasnomeanfeattoreachthatwindow—ledgeandopenthatwindow。
Gettingbackwascomparativelysimple。Areyoucomingwithustoseetheremainsofyourbust，Mr。Harker？\"
Thedisconsolatejournalisthadseatedhimselfatawriting—table。
\"Imusttryandmakesomethingofit，\"saidhe，\"thoughIhavenodoubtthatthefirsteditionsoftheeveningpapersareoutalreadywithfulldetails。It’slikemyluck！YourememberwhenthestandfellatDoncaster？Well，Iwastheonlyjournalistinthestand，andmyjournaltheonlyonethathadnoaccountofit，forIwastooshakentowriteit。AndnowI’llbetoolatewithamurderdoneonmyowndoorstep。\"
Aswelefttheroomweheardhispentravellingshrillyoverthefoolscap。
Thespotwherethefragmentsofthebusthadbeenfoundwasonlyafewhundredyardsaway。ForthefirsttimeoureyesresteduponthispresentmentofthegreatEmperor，whichseemedtoraisesuchfranticanddestructivehatredinthemindoftheunknown。Itlayscatteredinsplinteredshardsuponthegrass。Holmespickedupseveralofthemandexaminedthemcarefully。Iwasconvincedfromhisintentfaceandhispurposefulmannerthatatlasthewasuponaclue。
\"Well？\"askedLestrade。
Holmesshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Wehavealongwaytogoyet，\"saidhe。\"Andyet——andyet——
well，wehavesomesuggestivefactstoactupon。Thepossessionofthistriflingbustwasworthmoreintheeyesofthisstrangecriminalthanahumanlife。Thatisonepoint。
Thenthereisthesingularfactthathedidnotbreakitinthehouse，orimmediatelyoutsidethehouse，iftobreakitwashissoleobject。\"
\"Hewasrattledandbustledbymeetingthisotherfellow。
Hehardlyknewwhathewasdoing。\"
\"Well，that’slikelyenough。ButIwishtocallyourattentionveryparticularlytothepositionofthishouseinthegardenofwhichthebustwasdestroyed。\"
Lestradelookedabouthim。
\"Itwasanemptyhouse，andsoheknewthathewouldnotbedisturbedinthegarden。\"
\"Yes，butthereisanotheremptyhousefartherupthestreetwhichhemusthavepassedbeforehecametothisone。Whydidhenotbreakitthere，sinceitisevidentthateveryyardthathecarrieditincreasedtheriskofsomeonemeetinghim？\"
\"Igiveitup，\"saidLestrade。
Holmespointedtothestreetlampaboveourheads。
\"Hecouldseewhathewasdoinghereandhecouldnotthere。
Thatwashisreason。\"
\"ByJove！that’strue，\"saidthedetective。\"NowthatIcometothinkofit，Dr。Barnicot’sbustwasbrokennotfarfromhisredlamp。Well，Mr。Holmes，whatarewetodowiththatfact？\"
\"Torememberit——todocketit。Wemaycomeonsomethinglaterwhichwillbearuponit。Whatstepsdoyouproposetotakenow，Lestrade？\"
\"Themostpracticalwayofgettingatit，inmyopinion，istoidentifythedeadman。Thereshouldbenodifficultyaboutthat。Whenwehavefoundwhoheisandwhohisassociatesare，weshouldhaveagoodstartinlearningwhathewasdoinginPittStreetlastnight，andwhoitwaswhomethimandkilledhimonthedoorstepofMr。HoraceHarker。Don’tyouthinkso？\"
\"Nodoubt；andyetitisnotquitethewayinwhichIshouldapproachthecase。\"
\"Whatwouldyoudo，then？\"
\"Oh，youmustnotletmeinfluenceyouinanyway！IsuggestthatyougoonyourlineandIonmine。Wecancomparenotesafterwards，andeachwillsupplementtheother。\"
\"Verygood，\"saidLestrade。
\"IfyouaregoingbacktoPittStreetyoumightseeMr。HoraceHarker。TellhimfrommethatIhavequitemadeupmymind，andthatitiscertainthatadangeroushomicidallunaticwithNapoleonicdelusionswasinhishouselastnight。Itwillbeusefulforhisarticle。\"
Lestradestared。
\"Youdon’tseriouslybelievethat？\"
Holmessmiled。
\"Don’tI？Well，perhapsIdon’t。ButIamsurethatitwillinterestMr。HoraceHarkerandthesubscribersoftheCentralPressSyndicate。Now，Watson，Ithinkthatweshallfindthatwehavealongandrathercomplexday’sworkbeforeus。
Ishouldbeglad，Lestrade，ifyoucouldmakeitconvenienttomeetusatBakerStreetatsixo’clockthisevening。UntilthenIshouldliketokeepthisphotographfoundinthedeadman’spocket。ItispossiblethatImayhavetoaskyourcompanyandassistanceuponasmallexpeditionwhichwillhavebeundertakento—night，ifmychainofreasoningshouldprovetobecorrect。
Untilthen，good—byeandgoodluck！\"
SherlockHolmesandIwalkedtogethertotheHighStreet，wherehestoppedattheshopofHardingBrothers，whencethebusthadbeenpurchased。AyoungassistantinformedusthatMr。Hardingwouldbeabsentuntilafternoon，andthathewashimselfanewcomerwhocouldgiveusnoinformation。Holmes’sfaceshowedhisdisappointmentandannoyance。
\"Well，well，wecan’texpecttohaveitallourownway，Watson，\"hesaid，atlast。\"WemustcomebackintheafternoonifMr。Hardingwillnotbehereuntilthen。Iam，asyouhavenodoubtsurmised，endeavouringtotracethesebuststotheirsource，inordertofindifthereisnotsomethingpeculiarwhichmayaccountfortheirremarkablefate。LetusmakeforMr。MorseHudson，oftheKenningtonRoad，andseeifhecanthrowanylightupontheproblem。\"
Adriveofanhourbroughtustothepicture—dealer’sestablishment。Hewasasmall，stoutmanwitharedfaceandapepperymanner。
\"Yes，sir。Onmyverycounter，sir，\"saidhe。\"WhatwepayratesandtaxesforIdon’tknow，whenanyruffiancancomeinandbreakone’sgoods。Yes，sir，itwasIwhosoldDr。Barnicothistwostatues。Disgraceful，sir！ANihilistplot，that’swhatImakeit。NoonebutanAnarchistwouldgoaboutbreakingstatues。Redrepublicans，that’swhatIcall’em。WhodidI
getthestatuesfrom？Idon’tseewhatthathastodowithit。
Well，ifyoureallywanttoknow，IgotthemfromGelderandCo。，inChurchStreet，Stepney。Theyareawell—knownhouseinthetrade，andhavebeenthistwentyyears。HowmanyhadI？
Three——twoandonearethree——twoofDr。Barnicot’sandonesmashedinbroaddaylightonmyowncounter。DoIknowthatphotograph？No，Idon’t。Yes，Ido，though。Why，it’sBeppo。
HewasakindofItalianpiece—workman，whomadehimselfusefulintheshop。Hecouldcarveabitandgildandframe，anddooddjobs。Thefellowleftmelastweek，andI’veheardnothingofhimsince。No，Idon’tknowwherehecamefromnorwherehewentto。Ihavenothingagainsthimwhilehewashere。Hewasgonetwodaysbeforethebustwassmashed。\"
\"Well，that’sallwecouldreasonablyexpecttogetfromMorseHudson，\"saidHolmes，asweemergedfromtheshop。\"WehavethisBeppoasacommonfactor，bothinKenningtonandinKensington，sothatisworthaten—miledrive。Now，Watson，letusmakeforGelderandCo。，ofStepney，thesourceandoriginofbusts。
Ishallbesurprisedifwedon’tgetsomehelpdownthere。\"
InrapidsuccessionwepassedthroughthefringeoffashionableLondon，hotelLondon，theatricalLondon，literaryLondon，commercialLondon，and，finally，maritimeLondon，tillwecametoariversidecityofahundredthousandsouls，wherethetenementhousesswelterandreekwiththeoutcastsofEurope。
Here，inabroadthoroughfare，oncetheabodeofwealthyCitymerchants，wefoundthesculptureworksforwhichwesearched。
Outsidewasaconsiderableyardfullofmonumentalmasonry。
Insidewasalargeroominwhichfiftyworkerswerecarvingormoulding。Themanager，abigblondGerman，receiveduscivilly，andgaveaclearanswertoallHolmes’squestions。AreferencetohisbooksshowedthathundredsofcastshadbeentakenfromamarblecopyofDevine’sheadofNapoleon，butthatthethreewhichhadbeensenttoMorseHudsonayearorsobeforehadbeenhalfofabatchofsix，theotherthreebeingsenttoHardingBrothers，ofKensington。Therewasnoreasonwhythosesixshouldbedifferenttoanyoftheothercasts。Hecouldsuggestnopossiblecausewhyanyoneshouldwishtodestroythem——infact，helaughedattheidea。Theirwholesalepricewassixshillings，buttheretailerwouldgettwelveormore。
Thecastwastakenintwomouldsfromeachsideoftheface，andthenthesetwoprofilesofplasterofPariswerejoinedtogethertomakethecompletebust。TheworkwasusuallydonebyItaliansintheroomwewerein。Whenfinishedthebustswereputonatableinthepassagetodry，andafterwardsstored。
Thatwasallhecouldtellus。
Buttheproductionofthephotographhadaremarkableeffectuponthemanager。Hisfaceflushedwithanger，andhisbrowsknottedoverhisblueTeutoniceyes。
\"Ah，therascal！\"hecried。\"Yes，indeed，Iknowhimverywell。
Thishasalwaysbeenarespectableestablishment，andtheonlytimethatwehaveeverhadthepoliceinitwasoverthisveryfellow。Itwasmorethanayearagonow。HeknifedanotherItalianinthestreet，andthenhecametotheworkswiththepoliceonhisheels，andhewastakenhere。Beppowashisname——hissecondnameIneverknew。Servemerightforengagingamanwithsuchaface。Buthewasagoodworkman，oneofthebest。\"
\"Whatdidheget？\"
\"Themanlivedandhegotoffwithayear。Ihavenodoubtheisoutnow；buthehasnotdaredtoshowhisnosehere。Wehaveacousinofhishere，andIdaresayhecouldtellyouwhereheis。\"
\"No，no，\"criedHolmes，\"notawordtothecousin——notaword，Ibegyou。Thematterisveryimportant，andthefartherIgowithitthemoreimportantitseemstogrow。WhenyoureferredinyourledgertothesaleofthosecastsIobservedthatthedatewasJune3rdoflastyear。CouldyougivemethedatewhenBeppowasarrested？\"
\"Icouldtellyouroughlybythepay—list，\"themanageranswered。\"Yes，\"hecontinued，aftersometurningoverofpages，\"hewaspaidlastonMay20th。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidHolmes。\"Idon’tthinkthatIneedintrudeuponyourtimeandpatienceanymore。\"Withalastwordofcautionthatheshouldsaynothingastoourresearchesweturnedourfaceswestwardoncemore。
Theafternoonwasfaradvancedbeforewewereabletosnatchahastyluncheonatarestaurant。Anews—billattheentranceannounced\"KensingtonOutrage。MurderbyaMadman，\"andthecontentsofthepapershowedthatMr。HoraceHarkerhadgothisaccountintoprintafterall。Twocolumnswereoccupiedwithahighlysensationalandfloweryrenderingofthewholeincident。
Holmesproppeditagainstthecruet—standandreaditwhileheate。
Onceortwicehechuckled。
\"Thisisallright，Watson，\"saidhe。\"Listentothis：
`Itissatisfactorytoknowthattherecanbenodifferenceofopinionuponthiscase，sinceMr。Lestrade，oneofthemostexperiencedmembersoftheofficialforce，andMr。SherlockHolmes，thewell—knownconsultingexpert，haveeachcometotheconclusionthatthegrotesqueseriesofincidents，whichhaveendedinsotragicafashion，arisefromlunacyratherthanfromdeliberatecrime。Noexplanationsavementalaberrationcancoverthefacts。’ThePress，Watson，isamostvaluableinstitutionifyouonlyknowhowtouseit。Andnow，ifyouhavequitefinished，wewillharkbacktoKensingtonandseewhatthemanagerofHardingBrothershastosaytothematter。\"
Thefounderofthatgreatemporiumprovedtobeabrisk，crisplittleperson，verydapperandquick，withaclearheadandareadytongue。
\"Yes，sir，Ihavealreadyreadtheaccountintheeveningpapers。Mr。HoraceHarkerisacustomerofours。Wesuppliedhimwiththebustsomemonthsago。WeorderedthreebustsofthatsortfromGelderandCo。，ofStepney。Theyareallsoldnow。
Towhom？Oh，Idaresaybyconsultingoursalesbookwecouldveryeasilytellyou。Yes，wehavetheentrieshere。OnetoMr。Harker，yousee，andonetoMr。JosiahBrown，ofLaburnumLodge，LaburnumVale，Chiswick，andonetoMr。Sandeford，ofLowerGroveRoad，Reading。No，Ihaveneverseenthisfacewhichyoushowmeinthephotograph。Youwouldhardlyforgetit，wouldyou，sir，forI’veseldomseenanuglier。HaveweanyItaliansonthestaff？Yes，sir，wehaveseveralamongourworkpeopleandcleaners。Idaresaytheymightgetapeepatthatsalesbookiftheywantedto。Thereisnoparticularreasonforkeepingawatchuponthatbook。Well，well，it’saverystrangebusiness，andIhopethatyou’llletmeknowifanythingcomesofyourinquiries。\"
HolmeshadtakenseveralnotesduringMr。Harding’sevidence，andIcouldseethathewasthoroughlysatisfiedbytheturnwhichaffairsweretaking。Hemadenoremark，however，savethat，unlesswehurried，weshouldbelateforourappointmentwithLestrade。Sureenough，whenwereachedBakerStreetthedetectivewasalreadythere，andwefoundhimpacingupanddowninafeverofimpatience。Hislookofimportanceshowedthathisday’sworkhadnotbeeninvain。
\"Well？\"heasked。\"Whatluck，Mr。Holmes？\"
\"Wehavehadaverybusyday，andnotentirelyawastedone，\"
myfriendexplained。\"Wehaveseenboththeretailersandalsothewholesalemanufacturers。Icantraceeachofthebustsnowfromthebeginning。\"
\"Thebusts！\"criedLestrade。\"Well，well，youhaveyourownmethods，Mr。SherlockHolmes，anditisnotformetosayawordagainstthem，butIthinkIhavedoneabetterday’sworkthanyou。Ihaveidentifiedthedeadman。\"
\"Youdon’tsayso？\"
\"Andfoundacauseforthecrime。\"
\"Splendid！\"
\"WehaveaninspectorwhomakesaspecialtyofSaffronHillandtheItalianquarter。Well，thisdeadmanhadsomeCatholicemblemroundhisneck，andthat，alongwithhiscolour，mademethinkhewasfromtheSouth。InspectorHillknewhimthemomenthecaughtsightofhim。HisnameisPietroVenucci，fromNaples，andheisoneofthegreatestcut—throatsinLondon。
HeisconnectedwiththeMafia，which，asyouknow，isasecretpoliticalsociety，enforcingitsdecreesbymurder。Nowyouseehowtheaffairbeginstoclearup。TheotherfellowisprobablyanItalianalso，andamemberoftheMafia。Hehasbrokentherulesinsomefashion。Pietroissetuponhistrack。
Probablythephotographwefoundinhispocketisthemanhimself，sothathemaynotknifethewrongperson。Hedogsthefellow，heseeshimenterahouse，hewaitsoutsideforhim，andinthescufflehereceiveshisowndeath—wound。Howisthat，Mr。SherlockHolmes？\"
Holmesclappedhishandsapprovingly。
\"Excellent，Lestrade，excellent！\"hecried。\"ButIdidn’tquitefollowyourexplanationofthedestructionofthebusts。\"
\"Thebusts！Younevercangetthosebustsoutofyourhead。
Afterall，thatisnothing；pettylarceny，sixmonthsatthemost。
Itisthemurderthatwearereallyinvestigating，andItellyouthatIamgatheringallthethreadsintomyhands。\"
\"Andthenextstage？\"
\"Isaverysimpleone。IshallgodownwithHilltotheItalianquarter，findthemanwhosephotographwehavegot，andarresthimonthechargeofmurder。Willyoucomewithus？\"
\"Ithinknot。Ifancywecanattainourendinasimplerway。
Ican’tsayforcertain，becauseitalldepends——well，italldependsuponafactorwhichiscompletelyoutsideourcontrol。
ButIhavegreathopes——infact，thebettingisexactlytwotoone——thatifyouwillcomewithusto—nightIshallbeabletohelpyoutolayhimbytheheels。\"
\"IntheItalianquarter？\"
\"No；IfancyChiswickisanaddresswhichismorelikelytofindhim。IfyouwillcomewithmetoChiswickto—night，Lestrade，I’llpromisetogototheItalianquarterwithyouto—morrow，andnoharmwillbedonebythedelay。AndnowIthinkthatafewhours’sleepwoulddousallgood，forIdonotproposetoleavebeforeeleveno’clock，anditisunlikelythatweshallbebackbeforemorning。You’lldinewithus，Lestrade，andthenyouarewelcometothesofauntilitistimeforustostart。
Inthemeantime，Watson，Ishouldbegladifyouwouldringforanexpressmessenger，forIhavealettertosend，anditisimportantthatitshouldgoatonce。\"
Holmesspenttheeveninginrummagingamongthefilesoftheolddailypaperswithwhichoneofourlumber—roomswaspacked。
Whenatlasthedescendeditwaswithtriumphinhiseyes，buthesaidnothingtoeitherofusastotheresultofhisresearches。Formyownpart，Ihadfollowedstepbystepthemethodsbywhichhehadtracedthevariouswindingsofthiscomplexcase，and，thoughIcouldnotyetperceivethegoalwhichwewouldreach，IunderstoodclearlythatHolmesexpectedthisgrotesquecriminaltomakeanattemptuponthetworemainingbusts，oneofwhich，Iremembered，wasatChiswick。
Nodoubttheobjectofourjourneywastocatchhimintheveryact，andIcouldnotbutadmirethecunningwithwhichmyfriendhadinsertedawrongclueintheeveningpaper，soastogivethefellowtheideathathecouldcontinuehisschemewithimpunity。IwasnotsurprisedwhenHolmessuggestedthatIshouldtakemyrevolverwithme。Hehadhimselfpickeduptheloadedhunting—cropwhichwashisfavouriteweapon。
Afour—wheelerwasatthedoorateleven，andinitwedrovetoaspotattheothersideofHammersmithBridge。Herethecabmanwasdirectedtowait。Ashortwalkbroughtustoasecludedroadfringedwithpleasanthouses，eachstandinginitsowngrounds。Inthelightofastreetlampweread\"LaburnumVilla\"
uponthegate—postofoneofthem。Theoccupantshadevidentlyretiredtorest，forallwasdarksaveforafanlightoverthehalldoor，whichshedasingleblurredcircleontothegardenpath。Thewoodenfencewhichseparatedthegroundsfromtheroadthrewadenseblackshadowupontheinnerside，andhereitwasthatwecrouched。
\"Ifearthatyou’llhavealongwait，\"Holmeswhispered。
\"Wemaythankourstarsthatitisnotraining。Idon’tthinkwecanevenventuretosmoketopassthetime。However，it’satwotoonechancethatwegetsomethingtopayusforourtrouble。\"
Itproved，however，thatourvigilwasnottobesolongasHolmeshadledustofear，anditendedinaverysuddenandsingularfashion。Inaninstant，withouttheleastsoundtowarnusofhiscoming，thegardengateswungopen，andalithe，darkfigure，asswiftandactiveasanape，rushedupthegardenpath。Wesawitwhiskpastthelightthrownfromoverthedooranddisappearagainsttheblackshadowofthehouse。Therewasalongpause，duringwhichweheldourbreath，andthenaverygentlecreakingsoundcametoourears。Thewindowwasbeingopened。Thenoiseceased，andagaintherewasalongsilence。
Thefellowwasmakinghiswayintothehouse。Wesawthesuddenflashofadarklanterninsidetheroom。Whathesoughtwasevidentlynotthere，foragainwesawtheflashthroughanotherblind，andthenthroughanother。
\"Letusgettotheopenwindow。Wewillnabhimasheclimbsout，\"
Lestradewhispered。
Butbeforewecouldmovethemanhademergedagain。Ashecameoutintotheglimmeringpatchoflightwesawthathecarriedsomethingwhiteunderhisarm。Helookedstealthilyallroundhim。Thesilenceofthedesertedstreetreassuredhim。Turninghisbackuponushelaiddownhisburden，andthenextinstanttherewasthesoundofasharptap，followedbyaclatterandrattle。Themanwassointentuponwhathewasdoingthatheneverheardourstepsaswestoleacrossthegrassplot。WiththeboundofatigerHolmeswasonhisback，andaninstantlaterLestradeandIhadhimbyeitherwristandthehandcuffshadbeenfastened。AsweturnedhimoverIsawahideous，sallowface，withwrithing，furiousfeatures，glaringupatus，andIknewthatitwasindeedthemanofthephotographwhomwehadsecured。
ButitwasnotourprisonertowhomHolmeswasgivinghisattention。Squattedonthedoorstep，hewasengagedinmostcarefullyexaminingthatwhichthemanhadbroughtfromthehouse。ItwasabustofNapoleonliketheonewhichwehadseenthatmorning，andithadbeenbrokenintosimilarfragments。CarefullyHolmesheldeachseparateshardtothelight，butinnowaydiditdifferfromanyothershatteredpieceofplaster。Hehadjustcompletedhisexaminationwhenthehalllightsflewup，thedooropened，andtheownerofthehouse，ajovial，rotundfigureinshirtandtrousers，presentedhimself。
\"Mr。JosiahBrown，Isuppose？\"saidHolmes。
\"Yes，sir；andyou，nodoubt，areMr。SherlockHolmes？Ihadthenotewhichyousentbytheexpressmessenger，andIdidexactlywhatyoutoldme。Welockedeverydoorontheinsideandawaiteddevelopments。Well，I’mverygladtoseethatyouhavegottherascal。Ihope，gentlemen，thatyouwillcomeinandhavesomerefreshment。\"
However，Lestradewasanxioustogethismanintosafequarters，sowithinafewminutesourcabhadbeensummonedandwewereallfouruponourwaytoLondon。Notawordwouldourcaptivesay；butheglaredatusfromtheshadowofhismattedhair，andonce，whenmyhandseemedwithinhisreach，hesnappedatitlikeahungrywolf。Westayedlongenoughatthepolice—stationtolearnthatasearchofhisclothingrevealednothingsaveafewshillingsandalongsheathknife，thehandleofwhichborecopioustracesofrecentblood。
\"That’sallright，\"saidLestrade，asweparted。\"Hillknowsallthesegentry，andhewillgiveanametohim。You’llfindthatmytheoryoftheMafiawillworkoutallright。ButI’msureIamexceedinglyobligedtoyou，Mr。Holmes，fortheworkmanlikewayinwhichyoulaidhandsuponhim。Idon’tquiteunderstanditallyet。\"
